East Lancashire has some of the highest rates of cot death in England.

Rossendale had the fifth highest number of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) – with eight deaths between 2004 and 2012.

This is rate of 1.06 cases per 1,000 live births, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics.

There were also eight deaths in both Hyndburn (0.78 per 1,000) and Pendle (0.69) – the 20th and 32nd highest rates respectively.

The Lullaby Trust said it was crucial to ensure young families were given ‘safer sleep’ advice – adding that the varying rates could simply come down to differing access to information from GPs and midwives.

The national data also showed babies born outside of marriage, and registered by the mother only, were far more likely to die of SIDS.

Francine Bates, chief executive of the Lullaby Trust, said: “We know we can save lives by advising parents on the safer sleep basics – such as placing a baby on its back to sleep, temperature control and keeping a baby smoke free during pregnancy and after birth.”

Jane Booth – chair of the Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board which promotes the Safer Sleep for Baby campaign – said: “The heartbreak involved in losing a baby is unimaginable and we want local figures down as much as we can.”

Seven cot deaths were recorded in Burnley, 12 in Blackburn with Darwen and just two in the Ribble Valley.